Bertie Herbert was born on 17 Sep, 1908 in Greens Norton, Northamptonshire^a1, the youngest son of Annie Louisa Tew (1874–1927)★. His father is not known. He is Stephanie's grandfather.

He married Beatrice Mabel Rogers (1909–1972)★, a shoe machinist, on 5 Aug, 1935 in Northampton, Northamptonshire^a2 . They had six children.

Bertie died at the age of fifty-two on 21 Jan, 1961 in Northampton^b1 He was survived by his wife Beatrice Mabel.

Timeline

1908

17 Sep

Born in Greens Norton, Northamptonshire^a1.

1935

5 Aug

Married Beatrice Mabel Rogers★ in Northampton, Northamptonshire^a2.
Occupation recorded as builder's labourer^a2.
Recorded as living at 35 Scarletwell Street, Northampton.

1961

21 Jan

Died at the age of fifty-two in Northampton^b1.

Research Notes

Who was Bertie Herbert's Father? #

Bertie Herbert was born on 17 Sep, 1908, in Greens Norton. His mother was Annie Louisa Tew★, who already had two sons: Samuel Lay and Lewis Tew. At the time of Bertie Herbert’s birth she was aged 34 and was living with Samuel’s father, George Lay, in Northampton. No father is recorded on Bertie Herbert’s birth entry.

We don’t believe that George Lay was the father of Bertie Herbert or of Lewis.

Our theory is that Annie and George started their relationship in Greens Norton and moved to Northampton together to avoid scandal when they discovered she was pregnant. At some point their relationship broke down and they came to an arrangement whereby George would support his son Samuel until the age of 16. Annie could remain living with them as his housekeeper. During this time she had one or two other relationships that led to the birth of Lewis and Bertie Herbert but George Lay is not the father of either. Since he took responsibility for Samuel on his birth registration and made an offer of support until age 16 then he would have certainly continued this with the other boys if they had been his own children.

The reasoning is as follows:

In April 1896 Annie was in Northampton with George at the birth of their son Samuel. Both were originally from Greens Norton. Annie was 21, George was 48. Almost certainly their relationship was scandalous and they may have moved to Northampton to escape attention. The recording of Annie’s surname as Lay on Samuel’s birth certificate suggests that they may have been planning to marry.

There is no evidence though that they married and by the 1901 census Annie and George are still living together in Northampton with their son Samuel. However Annie and Samuel are shown as boarders with George and all three are listed as unmarried. Annie and Samuel’s surnames are recorded as Tew. In November 1902 Annie gave birth to her son Lewis in Greens Norton, where her parents and brother were now living. No father was recorded on Lewis’ birth entry.

In the 1911 census Annie and George are shown living in the same house in Northampton with the three boys. Annie is recorded with the surname Tew and she is a housekeeper and boarder. The boys are all listed with the surname Lay and shown as the children of George. Confusingly Bertie Herbert is listed as a daughter. The house has two rooms. By this time Annie is 37 and George 65, still a jobbing gardener.

Our assumption is that Annie lived continuously with George between 1901 and 1911 but returned home to Greens Norton to have Lewis and Bertie Herbert. This is in contrast to the birth of Samuel which occurred in George’s house and was registered by him. Annie was the informant for both Lewis and Bertie Herbert’s births. This is suggestive that George did not want involvement with the two boys.

Annie left George’s house when Samuel Lay turned 16 in April 1912 and moved with Lewis and Bertie Herbert to 10 St. George’s Square. A few months later, in June 1912 she married Joseph Wyatt, a 55 year old widower. They married at the register office and Annie is recorded as a spinster charwoman aged 37. Her address is given as 10 St. George’s Square, Joseph’s is 9 St. George’s Square. Annie and Joseph went on to have two daughters, Mary Kate in 1913 and Florence in 1918.

There is no evidence that George Lay and Annie Tew had contact again. Their son Samuel died in the first world war and when, in 1919, Annie Wyatt filled out a form to claim Samuel’s effects and pension she recorded George as his father, address unknown. Annie listed herself, Lewis, Bertie Herbert, Mary and Florence as Samuel’s “full blood” relatives.